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SPEECH 



OF 



HON. HIR AM BELL, OF OHIO, 

IJN RHPLY TO HON. E. B. OLDS ON THE PRESIDENCY. GEN 
ERALS SCOTT AND PIERCE, THEIR COxMPARATIVE QUALI- 
FICATIONS AND MERITS, &c. 

Delivered in the House of Representatives, Julij 20, 1852. 



Mr. BELL said: 

Mr. Chairman: I do not rise to reply to all thai 
has fallen from ray coHeaorue, (Mr. Olds,) fori 
have not been in a position to hear all that he said; 
and besides, as he baa exhibited a written argu- 
ment, which he intends to publish, it would be im- 
possible to reply to it, not knowinsf what is in it. 
But I have been watching my colleague with some 
little interes;, for I undersiatid somewhat the mode 
of warfare pursued by that party in my own State 
of which my coUeegue is a prominent leader. I 
perceive that niy honorable friend and those who 
act with him arc not willing to canvass before the 
peoph; the principles, acts, and votes of the man 
whom they have nominated lor President; but the- 
expect to accomplish much by making charges to 
put the friends of the old veteran on the defensive. 
Well, sir, it is not the fi.-st time that General Scott 
has been upon the defensive, but he never yet re 
treated, unless it was to recharge upon the enemy 
and gain a victory. 

The hduorable member (Mr. Olds) said that he 
would not pluck one leaf from the laurel that 
adorns the brov,- of General Scott— that he was the 
greatest captain of tlie age. It was his civil qua! 
ifir:itions he proposed to canvas.=!. He also told us 
that the Democratic party, in nominating General] 
Pierce a? their cindi'date, endorsed his (Pitrce'3)| 
official record; and that his votes, letters, andj 
speeches composed that record; and which they,! 
the Democratic party, cheerfully handed over to' 
the Whig party for investigation and scrutiny. j 

Mr. Chairman, I am glad that the friends of' 
General Pierce ha\e thrown that record before thej 
country with such a challenge; for I assure youj 
it will prove a most unfortunate record tor the 
success of the DeiDocratic parly this fall. I will 
speak of that re-ord hereafter. The honorable 
member, for fear of the effect, or some other cause 
equally potent, that ti>e publicatinn of the votes of 
Mr. Pierce wou'd produce upon the Presidential i 
election, has lailed to refer to the record of such 
votes. Is he afraid to let the people know what the, 
principles of Franklin Pierce are.' How he voted' 
on measures of national policy? He is. He dare 
not publish his votes. i 

Mr Chairman, notwithstanding the tender re 
gard my colleague (Mr. Olds) appeared to havei 
for the fair fame of General Scott in the com! 
mencement of his remarks, 1 submit to this corn 
mittee whether his whole speech was not a per- 
sonal attack upon that veteran hero and his publicl 
life? Such was its character, and that its object. . 
And why? I will tell you, Mr. Chairman. The! 
honorable me mber, and the leaders of the party i 

Gideon & Co., Printers. 



with whom he is associated, are not willing to 
meet the issues that now divide the two great po- 
litical parties. It is their object to get up fal^e 
issues. Hence my colleague in his remarks has 
studiously avoided touching upon any of the pend- 
ing measures that now interest the people. 

The ghosts of the Alien and Seflition laws, the 
United States Bank, the Native American party, 
md similar questions, some of which have been 
consigned to the tomb half a century ago, accord- 
ng to his own account, now appear most to haunt 
■ he gentleman's imagination; questions that have 
not for years been in issue, and that are not 
now in issue, but out of which he fancies he can 
make some political capital. The same game was 
tried by his party in 1840, and t;^e results of that 
campaign show the efficacy of a warfare of this 
kind. What surprised me most was that my 
iriend should go so far back in the history of the 
Whig party as to convict himself. If I had been 
near enough to my colleague I would have whis- 
pered in his ear, "Friend, be careful, you are 
treading on forbidden ground." If the Whig 
oarty are chargeable with what my honorable 
■oUeague says ihey are, which I deny , and if those 
charges are to apply so far back, the votes of my 
CLiUcaguc and bis political life would prove an old 
\dage to be true, that ." The giciteot rascals fre- 
quently turn State's evidence " [Laughter.] 

NATURALIZATION LAWS AND NATOHALIZED CITI- 
ZENS. 

My colleague has charged General Scott as being 
unfriendly to citizens of foreign birth, and read 
before the committee a part of his letter in 1841; 
but his other and subsequent letters he has with- 
held. Why not read all? If he wished to do jus- 
tice to an old soldier, should he not have read all 
Genera! Scott had said or written on that subject 
publicly? Yes, sir, he should; but he did not do 
it. He dare not tell the whole facts, and give the 
whole truth on that subject, to go before the public. 
What are the facts? Simply these, sir: The first 
letter, a part only of which my colleague read, of 
iGeueral Scott, was written under the Influence of 
1 great excitement produced in one of your cities 
(Philadelphia) by a conflict and loss of life be- 
tween Americans and foreigners. After this ex- 
citement died away, and when General Scott had 
become better acquainted with that class, he wrote 
the following letter: 

"Washington, May 29, 1848. 

"Dear Sir: In reply to your kind letter of the 8th 
instant, 1 take pleasure in saying that, grateful 
for the too partial estimate you place on my pub- 






lie servicee, you do me no more than justice in as company has General Scott icept? All classes of 
sumin^ that I entertain 'kind and liberal views American citizens. The high and the low, rich 



towards our naturalized citizens.' Certainly, if 
would be impossible for me to recommend or sup- 
port any measure intended to exclude them fron) 
a just and full partii ipation in all civil and political 
rights now secured to them by our republican 
laws and instil utions. 

"It is true, that in a season of unusual excitement, 
some years ago, w .en both parties complained oJ 
fraudulent practices in the naturalization of for- 
eigners, and when there seemed to be danger that 
native and adopted citizens would be permatiently 
arrayed against each other in hostile factions, I 
waa inclined to concur in the opinion, then avowed 
by many leading statesmen, that some modifica- 
tion of the naturalization laws might be necessary, 
in order to prevent abuses, allay strife, and restore 
harmony between the different classes of our peo 
pie. Jiut later experience and reflection have en 
tirely removed this impression, and dissipated my 
apprehensions 

"In my recent campaign in Mexico, a very large- 
proportion of the men under my command were 
your countrymen, (Irish,) Germans, &c. I wit- 
nessed with admiration their zeal, fidelity, anti 
valor in maintaming our flag in the face of everj 
danger. Vieing with each other and our native 
born soldiers in the same ranks in patriotism, con 
stancy, and heroic daring, I was happy to call 
them brothers in the field, as I shall always be to 
salute them as countrymen at home. 

"I remain, dear sir, with great esteem, yours, 
truly, WINFIELD SCOTT. 

"VVm. E. Robinson, Esq " 

General Scott, in his letter of acceptance of the 
nomination, dated 24th June, 1852, in speaking il 
what he would approve if President, uses the fol- 
lowing language: That he would "approve a sin- 

• gleaiteration in our naturalizationlaws, suggested 
' by my military experience, viz: giving to all for 
' eigners the right of citizenship who shall faith 

' fully serve, in time of war, one year on board of 
' our public ships, or in our land forces, regular 01 
' volunteer, on their receiving an honorable di 

• charge iroin service." 

These, iVIr. chairman, are the sentiments and 
opinions of General Scott. I wish them known 
and published through the length ami breadth of 
the land. These were known to the honorable 
member (Mr. Olds) when he read an extract of a 
prior letter. I presume he had all those letteri 
before him. He had read them a hundred times 
With all these facts before him, he reads an old 
extract from sume paper, that General Scott had 
no more connexion with than the moon, and still 
persists in his unfounded charges against General 
Scott, wf hostility to adopted citizens When men 
will so far misrepresent a fellow citizen for politi 
cal purposes, it is time that the honest, independ 
ent, and patriotic citizens of this country arise in 
their strength and affix their sealof condemnatioi 
upoij such conduct at the ballot box. They wil 
do it, sir. The people are moving. They are be 
coming aroused. They will protect the character 
and lame of that man who has protected them in 
the hour of peril. 

The honorable member says a man is known by 
the company he keeps, and that the Senator fron 
New York (W. H. Seward) is a supporter of 
General Scott; therefore he infers that General 
Scott entertains the same political views that Sen- 
ator Seward does. That is his course of reason- 
ing. It deserves no refutation. But, sir, any man 
may be proud to claim, as his associate, a man of 
the talents and patriotism of Senator Sbwahd, 
without concurring in all his views. The company 
he keep*. I accept the mode of trying our respect 



ivo candidates proposed by my colleague. WhatlJnot true 



and poor. From the time of his first commission 
in the army he has enjoyed the confidence and ap- 
proval of all the President?, from that day to this. 
His skill, bravery, and patriotism have often re- 
ceived the official approval of Congress and differ- 
ent Legislatures. He has shared the perils of war, 
upon the tented field, with officers of the highest 
rank, as well as the common soldier 

But, sir, what company has the favorite candi- 
date of my friend from Ohio kept.' What com- 
pany has General Pierce kept in New Hampshire 
on the subject of religious toleration? I mean in 
reference to that clause in the Constitution of New 
Hampshire which excluds^Jathclics from holding 
office. Dare my friend go home to the free and 
independent voters of the State of Ohio 2nd say 
that it is right to exclude one class of community 
from holding office because they worship at a dif- 
(erent altar than ourselves .'' Will he go home and 
say that General Pierce is not of the same opinion 
with that party who supported that, prohibi ion in 
the State of New Hampshire? Dare he say that 
he is not a man of influence in that State? Can he 
say that he is not a man of influence in the town 
in which he resides? And will he say that that 
influtnce was exerted to strike that odious re 
striction from the constitution of the State? No, 
sir; no, sir. Th«f is the only State in this Union 
whose constitution contains a vestige of reliffious 
intolerance; and could not Mr. Pierce, with his 
commanding influence, have procured a change? 
Yes, sir. 

Mr. Olds. I do not like to interrupt my col- 
league; but it he knows that the opinions of 
Franklin Pierce are precisely o(>iposite to those he 
represents, and then makes that statement upon 
this fliJor,I leave him to the tender mercies of the 
ountry. 

Mr. Bell. I have got the gentleman where the 
shoe pinches The truth of the matter is this: I 
have heard such a thing rumored in the public pa- 
pers, and that is all the gentleman has heard. J 
have heard it since his nominadon. But I hope, 
in the name of patriotism, tiiat Franklin Pierce 
condemns in his heart that spirit ot inlolrrance. I 
do not say that he has not. But if he has, why 
did not my colleague tell this committee so? Why 
did he not state this matter before the committee? 
Why did he not state the principles of General 
Pierce, instead of making those random charges 
against General Scott.'' Why did he not fell U:? his 
principles? Does he think the people of this coun- 
try are prepared to vote for a man without know 
ing his principles? That would be a fair inference 
from his argument 

Mr. Polk. I do not desire that the charge of 
the gentleman from Ohio (Rlr. Bell) should go 
out unanswered, or without being accompanied yb 
a proper explanation 

No longer than two years ago the people of New 
Hampshire called a convention for the purpose of 
amending the constitution of the Stale.. Mr. Pierce 
was a member of that convention, anci voted 
to abolish that feature of the constitution upon 
which the gentleman has commented. It was 
stricken out by a majority of the convention. _. But 
the constitution, to be ratified, required two thirds 
of the votes of the people. There arc more than 
one-third of the people of New Hampshire Whigs. 
They voted against the ratification ol the constitu- 
tion, and thereby prevented the alteration ol that 
feature which the gentleman now complains of. 

Mr. Tuck. If the gentleman from Tennessee 
says that the Whigo of New Hampshire voted 
against the new constitution, be asserts what is 



Mr. Polk. 1 wish to understand the gentleman. "about saving the Union, &c., until they got this 
I stated that more than one-third of the people of man Scott, of Virginia, an instrument to propound 
the State voted against the constitution, and that,! to these men questions which, if they answered in 
if the Whio-s of the State voted against it, it was'the aflBrmative— that is, pledging: themselves in 
not Mr. Pierce's fault. What does the gentlemanl advance, if elected, to veto a lawof Congress with- 
mean .'' Does he mean any thing personal .'' Does out constitutional objections — would be acting con- 
he mean to allege that I have stated any thing un ijcrary to the very principles of your Constitution, 
true ? !|This gentleman — Mr. Scott — propounded questions 

Mr. Tuck. Certainly, I intended nothing per , to those Democratic candidates, an affirmative an- 
sonal. 1 mean to say that the gentleman has statcdj'swer to which said nothing more or less in ad- 
as truth that which was not correct. Ijvance, notwithstanding what the people might do 

Mr. Bgll. I wish to propound a single questionj in this Democratic country, notwithstanding what 
to my honorable friend from Tennessee, (Mr.] they may determine through your legislators and 
Polk,) since he has propounded one on his part iCongress, the President says, "I forbid — I veto." 
It is this : Whether he is apprized of the reasons|| He exercises an authority more than the King of 
why General Pierce did not answer the letter of j' Great Britain, or than the king of any limited 
Mr. Scott, of Richmond ; or whether, if he did an- jmonarchy, the exercise of which would bring to 
swer it, can the gentleman tell us what the an-khe block any king that now sits upon an European 
swer was."* jthrone. Through eagerness for office a part of 



Mr. Polk. Mr. Pierce has, in his letter accept- 
ing the nomination of the Baltimore Convention, 
answered the questions contained in that letter. 

Mr. Bell. That does not answer my question 
I desire lo know whether he answered Mr. Scott's 
letter directly? 



those candidates answered affirmatively. Young 
America was too shrewd He left a creeping-out 
place; he would not interfere with Congress at all. 
General Pierce knew the character of that letter; 
and it is the greatest evidence I have seen of the 
talent of that man, that he withheld his reply from 



Mr. Polk. He did not anssver it directly, be-iithe public, and professed to be p-actisi/igiato some- 
cause General Pierre had previously a,unoiinced where at tha' particular time. 

that he was not a candidate for the nomination to' Now what is all this about? You well remem- 
the Presidency, and, therefore, felt himself underl|ber that I did not commence thesechirges. I want 
no obligation to answer it. l,that distinctly understood I would rather try 

Mr. Meads. I wish to give the gentleman all these men upon their lives, their public history, 
the informaiion upon that subject that I possess, iheir votes, their acts, and their services to the 
and it is to this effect: that when the letter of Mr.,|couutry. 1 am referring to those charges which 
Scott arrived at Concord, New Hampshire, Gene ihave been made by my co' league, (Mr. Olds,) 
ral Pierce was absent, practising in some of hi*l and when I came lo apply the rule that he laid 
court?, and in his absence his partner undertoobi down, why, sir, there v/as more than one inter- 
to reply; and in that reply, I understand, he saidiested in the matter. I do not think any thing 
that General Pierce w as from home, and therefore strange of that. I like to see my friends upon 
could not answer the letter personally, and that if !ihe other side of the House make the best advance 
he were at home, eneral Pierce, not being a can I ibey can. I think it is rather a prima facie case 
didate for the Presidency, would hardly feel him ||against General Pierce according to their own 
self under any obligation to answer ques'ions ollshowing. General Pierce would not answer ihat 
that sort. That was just before the conveiitiotji letter, because, if he would not pledge himself in 
met. The coijvention, when it did meet, nomi j advance to veto an act of Congress, he would not 
nated General Fierce contrary to his expectation,! £:et the nomination; and if he pledged in advance 
and in h s letter of acceptance sufficiently com I that he would veto, it would bea very little chance 
milted himself to all the questions v/hich had beenijhe would stand of an election. 



propounded to the other candidates for the Presi 
dency. 

Mr. Bell. I do not doubt, Mr. Chairman, that 
the gentleman has been informed, and probably 
believes all that he has stated. [L^'sughter.] In- 
deed, I would not doubt it at all. I trust — I will 



Mr. Chairman, I will now call the attention of 
the committee to the subject I was referring to 
when interrupted for explanations, I mean the 
test qualifications under the constitution of New 
Hampshire. 

And, sir, I will state another fact. In the strong 



notsaylttust — 1 know there are very few whii Democratic towns of the State of New Hampshire, 
will accept the reasoning that has been given where the votes were recorded on each clause of 
for his not answering the letter It is frequently the constitution, a majority V'lted for retaining 
the case that it is only by taking the testimony jthat clause; and in the Whig towns the reverse 
that is given on a cross-examination that youljwas the case. 

get at the real facts. What does he tell us? Hi|l Mr. Hibbabd. The gentleman's statement is 
tells us that the letter came there during General incorrect. I trust I shall be allowed a moment's 
Pierce's absence, and it came into the hands of hi? {interruption. 

partner; and his partner, knowing that he was not I Mr. Bbll. Nit now. If I am mistaken you can 
a candidate, was authorized to say he was not ai correct me hereafter. But I will give you the 
home, and would not answer it if he was at home | tacts, which will show whether I am right or 
That is the substance of it. Is that a good reasoniwrong. My statement is, of course, based upon 
for not answering? How came his partner to un I'ihe information I have received through the news- 
seal that letter unless he knew the contents of it?i|paper3 of that State. I challenge the gentleman 
If he knew its contents, was it not of enough im lito gather up the vote of every town in the State of 



portance to have been sent to Franklin Pierce? It 
reveals this fact, sir; and what is it? Why, sir, ii 
shows the eagerness of the Democratic candid;Ues 
of whom there was a multiplicity, almost a score, 
and who have honored your country in her coun- 
cils, to obtain a nomination by any means. 

Men who have thus been honored through the 
excitement — ay, sir, an excitement got up and 
carried on by some honest and patriotic men— and 
by a great many more for political humbugs, 



New Hampshire, and if what 1 now state be not 
proved, I will rise upon the floor and candidly ad- 
init that 1 was mismforined. Whenever I per- 
ceive that I am in error it is mj' greatest privilege 
to make a correction, especially when the error is 
calculated to aflfe.^t third persons. But, sir, I have 
no fears in this case, for I a.n right. 

The old constitution of New Hampshire, and 
which is still in force, contains the following: 

Article 14, under the bead of "form of govern- 



ment," provides that "every member of the House democeatic towns. 
of Representatives shall," among' other things,; yeas Nays 

"have an esfate within the district which he may, Barnstead 53 330 

be chosen to represent or the value of ±,100, one Cgnt^e Harbor. 19 97 

Gilmanton.... 61 494 

Effingham 1 136 

Ossipee 12 2S1 

Fufionhorough 42 149 

Wakefield 1 212 

VVoU borough .11 363 

Bow 26 150 

Chichester 11 172 

Warner 36 235 

Wilmot 43 151 

Alexandria.... 12 196 

Ellsworth 1 72 

Hill 11 148 



WHIG TOWNS. 



Yeas. Nays. 



half of which to be a freehold, whereof he i 

• seized in his own right," and "be ot the Pro- 
' testant religion, and shall cease to represent 
' such town, parish, or place immediately on his 

• ceasing to be qualified aa aforesaid." 

Article 29, under same head, contains the fol- 
lowing in regard to the qualifications of Senators: 
"No person shall be capable of being elected a 

• Senator who is not of the Protestant religion, 
' and seized of a freehold estate in his own right, 
,* of the value of £200 " 

The constitutiun further provides, Article 42, 
"that no person shall be eligible to the office of 

• Governor unless he shall at the same time have 
' an estate of the value of £500, one- half of which 
« shall consist of a freehold in his own right within 
' this State, and unless he shall be of the Protest- 
' ant religon." 

Article 61. Qualifications for Councillors shall 
be the same as for Senators. 

There was a convention called about two years 
ago to amend said constitution, of which Mr 
Pierce v;as elected President. Several ailnendments 
to that constitution were submitted to the people 
to vote upon. One of which amendments proposd 



Merrimac 139 

Nashua 647 

Nashville 255 

New Ipswich. . 94 

Dublin 91 

Fitzwilliam.. . 94 

Jeffrey 74 

Keene 233 

Marlborough. . SI 

Troy 

yVinchester. . 
Claremont . . . 

Bath 

Littleton 100 

Lyme 88 



61 
203 
245 
107 



69 
16 
95 
53 
14 

1 
42 

6 
32 
13 

6 

186 

34 

50 

57 



340 3,186 



2,512 574 



This table shows that the above-named Demo- 
cratic towns gave almost ten votes to one against 
the amendment, whilst the Whig towns gave 
nearly four to one in favor of it. The town of (Jon- 
cord, in which Mr. Pierce resides, ^ve one hun- 
dred and twenty-two votes in favor of the amend- 
jment to five hundred and nine against it." 
! These facts contradict the inferences of the hon- 
orable members from Tennessee (Mr. Polk) and 



was to striite out from the old constitution that||trom New Hampshire, (LVlr. Hibbaed,) "and ex- 
part which disqualified Catholics from holding of- jhibit the liberality of the Whigs of the Granite 
fice, and also the property qualification. For it'|Slate in a much more favorable light than that ot 
will be seen that New Hampshire is one of thej, the Democrats." Now, sir, where was Frankim 



Democratic States that forbids poor men from hold-[ 
ing office. And I would say further, Mr. Chair- 1 
man, that I believe that every State in the Unionj 
that retains a property qualification for holding 
office has for many years been, or now is, under 
the government of the self styled Democracy. 

What Franklin Pierce said in that convention I 
know not, nor do I care, for It was only a prelim 
inary proceeding. And I understand, sir, that 
there was no division of eentiment among the 
members of the (fonveniion as to the form in which 
the question should be submitted to the people to 
vote on. He may have made a five- minutes speech 
for Presidential capital abroad; but if he did, I 
have understood it was after the vote on the reli- 
gious test question had been taken in convention. 
But, sir, this is of little importance. It is the in 
fluence that Franklin Pierce and his friends exert- 
ed, and the undisputed control they bad over the 
question that I am considering. On the same 
day (March, 1851) that the vote was taken on 
the amendments to the constitution, there wus an 
election tor Governor of the State. There were 
two Democratic and one Whig candidates The 
Democratic candidates received 39,159 votes; the 
Whig candidate did not receive one-third ot the 
votes, as he got only 18,4S4. The vote on amend- 
ments to the constitution was small, as will be 
seen by returns copied from the New Hampshire 
Patriot, a Democratic paper. Ti'C aggregate vo'e 
^ on the test and property qualification was as lol 
lows: For abolishing it, 9,862; for retaining it, 
17^.^2. The Democratic party of that State at all 
time*.^had the power of abolishing those odious 
featurt** in their constitution but refused: "That 
the Wlug'ti were not accountable ibr tlie defeat ol 
the amenHiiient abolishing the religious test and 
property qualification v.as clearly demonstrated 
l)y the prcssvof the State at the time, which gave 
publicity to th6 following farts, in contracting (he 
votes given in the strotigholdB of both parlies in 
favor of the amendment. The comparison is 
made between fifteen towns of each party, hb fol-j 
Ipws: 



Pierce at this election? He, sir, is the idol of the 
Democracy of that State, and if he had been in 
earnest in favor of abolishing that test, he had only 
to say so to his friends, and it would have been 
done. The Democracy of New Hampshire is held 
up as a model for the people to imitate by the sup- 
porters of Mr. Pierce. They are his company. 
1 have given you their votes, by which they ex- 
clude the Catholics from the privileges of other 
citizens, and also prohibit a poor man from being 
eligible to certain offices. The people will pass 
upon the claims of that man who sanctions, by his 
acts of omission aa well as commission, such a dis- 
crimination between citizens of our common coun- 
try. TJte Whigs are riglUon all such questions, and 
will abide the result with confidence. 

1 believe the great mass of the Democratic and 
Whig parties are high and honorable men. 1 al- 
ways recognise them as such. I pray God there 
never may be party strifes engendered to cause us 
to think otherwise. I said my colleague, instead 
of meeting the issues now presented before the 
American people, did not even deign to give a 
single measure upon which General Pierce had 
cast his vote. Why keep this back? We pre- 
sent you with aflirmative resolutions of the Whig 
party, and their votes on all questions of public 
policy. What do the Democrats do? They pre- 
sent negative ones. They are always opposed to 
something which has no application to the times, 
rhey are al ways seekin g for some false issue. W hat 
do they say ? Do they say they are in favor of in- 
ternal improvements? No; they are opposed to 
ihjm. Di, they say they are in favor of a tariff for 
revenue, and the protection of all the interests of 
the people of this country ? No ; they are opposed 
lo it. They present Franklin Pierce to th. Ame- 
rican people for their supp rt— a man who is in 
favor of nothing, but ojiposfd to every thing beue- 
tii'inl to the country. 

Mr. Chairman, notwithstanding General Pierce, 
as well as the convention nominating him, have 
endeavored lo avoid any frank avowal of their 
principles, if fhcy have any, on measures of great 



public interest, yet there are some questions upon 
which they and their candidate stand committed 
upon record, that cannot be blotted out. I shall 
proceed to name some of them: 

General Pierce is opposed to river and harbor ap 
propriations, and if elected Pre.'ident of tlie United 
States would be bound by his terms of acceptance 
to veto any such bill -that Congress might pass dur 
ing his term. Proof— The Democratic party that 
nominated General Pierce, adopted as part of its 
platform the following resolution: 

"2. That the Constitution does not confer upon 
the General Government the power to commence 
and carry on a general system of internal improve • 
ments." 

General Pierce in his letter accepts the Demo 
cratic platform, and says, further, that "No word 
nor act of my life is in conflict with the principles 
of these resolutions or platform." Now, his re- 
corded votes during his whole time in Congress 
was uniformly against river and harbor improve- 
ments, as well as appropriations for lighthouses, 
marine hospitals, &c. This was admitted on this 
floor by the honorable member from Michigan, 
(Mr. Stuart ) apolitical friend of General Pierce, 
and if I understood him aright, it was upon con- 
stitutional objections. 

But, sir, I wil!^ refer to the record in proof of a 
part of his votes. For it is here in presence of his 
friends that I make the charge, and no one will 
attempt to deny it 

June 28, 1836, a bill was pending in the House 
of Representatives making appropriations for the 
improvement of harbors in twenty-three differ 
entStates. This bili passed, and received the ap- 
proval of President Jackson. 

Franklin Pierce voted against it! On the same 
day, Franklin Pierce voted against an additional 
bill for the improvement of rivers and harbors, 
which passed, and received the approval of An 
drew Jackson. The appropriations made by these 
bills were all needed, and much more; yet none 
would have been granted if General Pierce could 
have prevented it. 

Tsubmit to the committee some of the appro- 
priations proposed in one of these bills: 
For continuing improvemjsnt of Chicago (Illinois) 

harbor .^32,000 

For continuing works at harbor near River 

Raisin, Michigan 15,000 

For continuing removal of obstructions at 

Black river, Ohio 6,660 

For continuing improvement of Cleveland 

harbor, Ohio 15,000 

For continuing removal of obstructions at 

Grand river, Ohio.. 6,000 

For continuing removal of obstructions at 

Cunningham creek, Ohio 1,275 

For continuing removal of obstructions at 

Conneaut creek, Ohio 2,500 

For continuing improvement of Presque 

Isle harbor, Pennsylvania 15,000 

For continuing improvement of Dunkirk 

harbor. New York .•••;•• ^1>000 

For continuing improvement of Ohio riv- 
er, between Pittsburgh and Falls 20,000, 

For continuing improvement of Ohio and 
Mississippi rivers, from Louisville to 

New Orleans 60,000 

For continuing improvement of Mississip- 
pi river, above the mouth of the Ohio- 
Missouri river ..' 40,0U0 

For continuing improvement of Cumber- 
land river, Kentucky and Tennessee. . . 20,000 
For continuing improvements at Huron 

river, Ohio 4,310 

For dredging machine on Lake Erie 8,000 

For improvement ol Ohio and Mississippi 
rivers, under act of 1832 17,800 



In 1837 Mr, Pierce voted against a bill making 
appropriations for building lighthouses, and other 
similar works, in twenty-one different States. 
The same session, Franklin Pierce voted against 
a bill "to provide for certain harbors, and for the 
removal of obstructions in and at the mouths of 
certain rivers." This bill passed the House of 
Representatives by a vote of 107 yeas to 51 nays. 

Here are the appropriations in part: 

Illinois Chicago harbor $40,000 

Indiana Michigan city harbor. . . 30,000 

Michigan St Joseph river pier.... 15,000 

" River Raisin harbor 30,000 

Ohio Black river 6,410 

" Huron river 2,565 

" Vermillion river 20,000 

" Cleveland harbor 10 000 

" Cunningham creek 5,000 

♦' Ashtabula creek 8,000 

" Conneaut creek 5,000 

Pennsylvania . . . .Presque Isle harbor 15,000 

" Chester harbor 2,000 

Erection of a marine hospital at New Or- 
leans 70,000 

Purchase of sites lor.,marine hospitals on 

western waters 1 5,000 

Cumberland river improvement, Kentucky 

and Tennessee 55,000 

Ohio river improvement between the Falls 

and Pittsburgh 60,000 

Improvement of Ohio and Mississippi riv- 
ers from Louisville to New Orleans 60,000 

Mississippi river — continuing k-emoval of 

obstructions at mouth 210,000 

Improvement of Mississippi above mouth 

of Ohio and of Missouri river 40,000 

Erection of pier at St. Louis 50,000 

Other improvements in Mississippi, Ohio, 

and Missouri rivers. , 23,000 

Survey of rivers in Arkansas and Missouri 1,000 

June 29, 1836, Mr. Pierce voted against a bill 
making appropriations to "continue the Cumber- 
land road in the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illi- 
nois." This bill was signed by President Jackson. 
It appropriated, for expenditure in Ohio, !fii200,0 lO; 
in Indiana, f 250,000; and in Illinois, $150,000. 
Mr. Chairman, here, sir, is a sample of Mr. Pierce's 
negative merits for advancing the prosperity of 
the country. 

Will the Democratic party of the West and 
Southwest, many who have sustainfid these mea- 
sures, support a man who stands pledged against 
ihem.^ Il'so, ppeak out, and let the people know; 
you must either repudiate General Pierce and your 
platform, or oppose the best interests of your coun- 
try. 

The Whig party and General Scott occupy no 
ioubtful position on those measures. They are the 
avowed and steadfast friends of them. I read the 
resolution adopted by the Whig Convention and 
approved by General Scott: 

"6. The Constitution vests in Congress the pow- 
er to open and repair harbors, and remove ob- 
structions from navigable rivers; and it is expe- 
'ient that Congress should exercise that power 
whenever such improvements are necessary for the 
common defence or for the protection and facility 
of commerce with foreign nations or among the 
States— such improvements being, in every in- 
stance, national and general in their character." 

Mr. Chairman, inasmuch as the honorable mem- 
ber (Mr. Olds) has refused or failed to tell this 
committee or the public what principles his party 
support, or the opinions of .their candidates upon 
questions of public policy now interesting the peo- 
ple of this nation, 1 propose to compare the claims 
of each candidate— Generals Scotland Pierce — for 
the support of their fellow-citizens, in connexion 



6 



with the distinctive principiee of the Whig and 
Democratic parties of the day. 

INTEBNAL "iMPBOVEMENTS AND RIVEB AND HAH- 
BOB APPROPBIATIONS. 

The fVhig party and General Scott are in favor 
of and support these measures. Proo/— Resolutions 
of Baltimore Convention and votes. General 
Pierce is opposed to those measures. Proof— His 
votes and Democratic platform. 

TAXES TO SUPPOBT THE GOVERNMENT. 

The Whig- party are in favor of an economical 
administration of the General Government, and 
of raising- a revenue to support it mainly from du 
ties on imports. See resolution of Whig Conven- 
tion, as follows: 

"5. Government should be conducted upon prin 
ciples of the strictest economy, and revenue suflS- 
cient for the expenses thereof, in time of peace, 
ought to be mainly derived from a duty on imports, 
and not Irom direct taxes; and, in levying suchl 
duties, sound policy requires a just discrimination 
and protection from fraud, by specific duties, whenj 
practicable, whereby suitable encouragement may 
be assured to American industry, equally to alll 
classes and to all portions of the country." ] 

The Democratic party refused to proclaim their 
opinions on this subject at their convention. But, 
sir, it is well understood that many of that party 
favor direct taxation. 

RELIGIOUS TOIiEBATlON. 

General Scott is known to be an American at 
hea 
dom 



"And be it further enacted. That when any of 
the public lands of the United States have remained 
unsold for the space of fifteen years after the ter- 
mination of the public sales, the same may be en- 
tered and purchased by actual settlers on the fol- 
lowing terms, to wit: If a settler is desirous to pur- 
chase a residence for eighty, or less than eighty 
acres, he may enter and purchase the saaie at fifty 
cents per acre." 

Upon this proposition the vote stood — ayes 21, 
noes 23. Among the noes were Franklin Pierce 
and Wiiiiam R. King. The votes of the Senators 
from Ohio, Indiana, Jllinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Arkansas, Mississippi, Michigan, and Tennessee, 
without regard to party, were "given for this pro- 
vision, which was defeated by the votes of Pierce 
and K:ng; and yet the poor man of the West is 
asked to vote for these men. 

VETO POWER. 

General Scott disclaims the exercise of the one- 
man power to thwart the legislation of the people's 
representatives. 

General Pierce, when interrogated upon that 
question, either refuses to answer or keeps his 
answer pocketed, but permits bis friends in one 
part of the country to say he is in favor of, and 
in another part against, the exercise of such mo 
narchical power. 

dUALITIES OF THE HEABT. 

General Scott's whole life has been spent in 
that kind of service that has made him famUiar 
with the sutTerings of all classes in all conditions 
of life, of which he has been among the sufferers. 

the 



rt and practice on the subject of re hg.ous free-,, ^,^^ wounded, sick, or hungry soldier, t 

n. He IS for equal privileges to all. The De ^jg^^^d^^d disconsolate widow, the victim of the 
pocratic party of New Hampshire who first nom- captured prisoner, or the wayfaring 

mated General Pierce for President, exclude ' t; ^^ ^^j ^ sympathetiS 

Catholics from office and require a man to holdi^^'^n , > No man was evef turned 

a certain amount of property to quahfy h^n for . j ^^^^ .^ distress without 

office. Such IS the consutution of that atate; and j . -^ 

that party, who had the power, voted ^g^insi,^'^ ^^ ;^ ^.^^^^^1 p.^^.^^^ ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^y ^^^^^ j,^ ^^^^ 

amending it. ,^^^ possess these qualities in a high degree, for I 

PBOTECTioN TO AMERICAN INDUSTHY. iihave no pcrsoflal acquaintance with him ; but if 

The Whig party and General Scott are in favorj he does, he has at least on one occasion had a bad 



of affording protection to American agriculture 
man u fact ur/es, commerce, and all branches of in- 
dustry, by a discriminating tariff of duties, &c 
General Pierce and his party are opposed to it. 

DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE PUBLIC 
LANDS. • 

The Whig party are in favor of dividing the 
money arising from the sale of our national do-j 
main among all the States in an equitable propor-j 
tion. The Democratic party oppose it. j 

THE BIGHT OF PETITION. 

General Scott never denied the right of an] 
American citizen, under the Constitution, to peti-i 
tion for the redress of grievances. j 

Mr. Pierce voted against it in Congress. I refer] 
to the journals. 

ACTUAL SETTLERS UPON PUBLIC LANDS. 

General Scott, in his letter of acceptance of the 
nomination, uses the following language: 



wav of showing it. Mr. Chairman, after the death 
of Genera! Harrison, w'hcn his widow was mo'i'-a- 
ing the loss of her late bosom companion j'ad 
earthly protector; svhen she was poor, and her 
husband had spent all his means in moving to 
your capital, there was a bill brought forward in 
Congress to allow the widow Harrison one lull 
year's salary for her deceased husband. Franklin 
Pierce not only voted against this bill, but used his 
influence to prevent its passage. But, thanks to the 
benevolence of the membersof that Congress, there 
were lew that thought as Mr. Pierce did. Tlie bill 
passed, and the lonely widow's heart was cheered 
with some relief. 

CIVIL aUALIPICATIONS. 

General Scott is far superior to Mr. Pierce in 
this respect; yet the Democratic party — no, sir, I 
will say the Locofoco leaders of that party— are 
trying to depreciate the merits of the old Odtriot 
for civil qualifications, and trumpet forth Frank 
lin Pierce as the greatest civilian of the age But 



I therefore barely suggest, in this place, that llhcy tell us of nothing that Mr. Pierce has ever 
should I, by the partiality of my countrymen, bcjjdone in or out of the Legislature or Congress to 
elevated to the Chief Magistracy of the Union, 1 warrant such an assumption or claim. Tiiey have 
ehall be ready, in my c nnexion with Congress, to |poiitic reasons fur such-a course. They know he 
recommend or to approve of measures in regard to'] never did a single act in his life to merit the con 
the management of the public domain, so as to se-j|fidence of the people in him as a'stafesman 1 
cure an early settlement of the same favorable to challenge a successful contradiction of this state- 
actual settlers, but consistent nevertheless with :i inent. He was educatcJ a lawyer, and that has 
due regard to the equal rights of the whole Aiueril been his practice except when in the Legislature 
can people in that vast national inheritance." | Dr Congress; and in the latter capacity all his in- 

By reference to the Senate Journal of January' flucncc and votes were cast in opposition to mea- 
14. 1«.J9, you will find the following proposition! aures calculated to advance the prosperity of the 
pending in that body: i|country, as 1 have before proved. 



T 



Now, Mr. Chairman, let public history— the 
records of your country, and the life of General 
Scott — speak for him in this respect. Commence 
wirh his interference and saving the lives of the 
Irish prisoners while he was a prisoner on board 
of a British vessel; and ufter which, and in 1813, 
he recommended and procured the passage of an 
act of Congress which effectually placed soldiers 
in our army of foreign birth that might be cap 
tured by the enemy upon the same terms of pro- 
tection as Americans. 

Examine his proceedings in 1832 in settling the 
Black Hawk war, treating with the Indians, re- 
storing peace and protection to the TVorthwestern 
Territories. 

His perilous services and settlement of the Flo- 
rida war; his delicate yet successful mission under 
President Jackson to South Carolina to maintain 
the supremacy and integrity of the Union, and at 
the same time not infringe upon the rights of any 
particular State. He was successful, and order 
and confidence again restored througtiout the 
country. 

Again, you find Scott entrusted with almost un- 
limited power to settle the difficulties and main- 
tain the peace upon our Canada frontier and Maine 
boundary. He was successful here. By his per 
sonal popularity and ripe qualifications as a diplo 
uiatist he accomplished what no other man could 
have done under similar circumstances. 

Come dosvn to a more recent period in his his- 
tory. Test his civil qualifications after he became 
the conqueror of iNIcxico. 

In a very lew days after his triumphant entrance 
into the city of Mexico he established and promul 
gated a code of laws and system for rai.=iag rev 
enue That> considering its adaptation to tht 
times and circumstances, as well as its practi'-ai 
effects, has challenged the admiration of tne great 
est statesmen. It may be said also that be was 
the master spirit 'n bringing about a treaty there 

JMr. Chairman. Gent-rul Scott, like General 
Washington in his tinie, has the peculiar combina 
tion of miii.ary and civil qualifications united, 
eminently fitting him for the oUice of President. 

MILITARY Q,0ALIFICATIONS . 

1 will not compare these, sir. The most- the 
friends of General Pierce claim for him in this re 
spect is, that during the Mexican war he was 
taken from his lav/ office, and commissioned as a 
general; went to Mexico as such officer; served a 
short time, and resigned before the teraiinatiou of 
that war. 

The history of your country, and the success oi 



fighting, for chivalry of individuals and masses, 
that portion of the Mexican war which was con- 
ducted by the gallant Scott, as chief commander, 
stands unrivalled, either by the deeds of Cortez 
himself, or by those of any other commander in 
ancient or modern times." 

Dr. Channing, in the preface to his Lectures on 
War, pays the following tribute to the man whom 
he Whigs have selected for their candidate at the 
approaching contest: 

iMuch, also, is due to the beneficent influence 
of General Scott. To this distinguished mau be- 
longs the rare honor of uniting with military en- 
ergy and daring the spirit of a philanthropist. 
His eTploiis in the field, which placed him in the jir*l 
rank of soldiers, have Oeen obscured by the purer and 
more lasting glory of a pacificator and a friend of 
mankiiid. In the whole history of the intercourse 
of civilized communities, we doubt whether a 
brighter page can be found than that which re- 
cords his agency in the removal of the Cherokees. 
As far as the wrbngs done to this race can be 
atoned tor. General Scott has made the expiation. 
In his recent mission to the disturbed borders of 
our country he has succeeded, not so much by 
policy as by the nobleness and generosity oi coa- 
acter, by moral influence, bj' the earnest convic- 
ion with whi^'h he has enforced on all with whom 
he had to do ihfe obligations of patriotism, justice, 
humanity, and religion, it would not be easy to 
find among us a man who has won a purer fame; 
ind I would do something, no matter how little, to 
hasten the time when the spirit of Christian hu- 
nanity shall be accounted an essential attribute 
and the brightest ornament in a public man." 

Hear what his political enemies said of him be- 
fore he was a candidate. In the Washington 
Union of April 10, 1847, 1 find the following: 

"Gi-oKioas Achievement. — Victory follows vic- 
tory in rapid succession. It was a settled maxim 
that we could never cease this war with honor un- 
ci! we had taken the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa. 
Thanks be to our distinguished and skilful Gene- 
ral— ',o hjs brave officers and men — to the gallant 
officers and men of our navy, this great achieve- 
ment, has bten effected with but little loss of life on 
our part. IVe have taken the Gibraltar of the West- 
ern Continent. We have added ntw laurels to our 
wreath. The gratitude and admiration of a free 
people are due. to Major General Scott. We con- 
grdtulate >ur couniry again upon the prowess of 
their army and navy. In less than eleven months, 
\a succession of achievements has puured m upon us 
\which would grace the annals cf any people under the 



her armu-3 under' Scott for ihe last forty years, Isu/t. Let our countrymen rejoice, and let them 
will best illustrate his services, bravery, skill, andiipour out their hanks to the brave men who have 



patriotism, und claims upon his country 

Mr. Chairman, hear what some o! the most emi- 
nent men of your country have said of General 
Scott. 

In a speech in the United States Senate, March 
23, 1848, Daniel Webster spoke as follows relative 
to the character and services of General Scott: 

"1 understand, sir, that, the.-e is a report from 
General Scott; from General Scott, a man who 
has performed the most brilliant campaign on re- 
cent military record ; a man who has warred 
against the enemy, warred against the climate, 
warred against a thousand unproj)itiou3 circum- 
stances, and has carried the flag of his couniry to 
the capital of the enemy, honorably, proudly, hu 
manely, to his own permanent honor, and the 
great military credit ofiiis country " 

Henry Clay, in the t-iwiaie of ine United Sla.es 
in iSoO, spoke thus oi General Scott and the Mexi 
can war : 

"1 must take this opportunity to say that for 
skill, for science, for strategy, for bold and daring 



ione honor to the character of this free country.' 

Such, Mr. Chairman, is the man that the honor- 
able member (Mr. Olds) has compared to butchers 
in human blood; and would try to make him, and 
necessarily the American army under his com- 
mand, appear destitute of those sympathies and 
humane teelings common to the rest of mankind. 
But not content with that, he has descended to ihe 
tombs of Harrison and Taylor to calumniate the 
memories of those departed heroesand sages — and, 
in effect, to read the independent freemen of this 
country a lecture upon the exercise of their rights 
of suffrage in elevating those patriots to the high- 
st office in this Republic. He wishes to apply the 
dispensations of Providence to the unholy purposes 
ot a political contest. He thinks the Union was 
saved '"only by the interposition of Providence in 
the death of General Taylor." This, 1 confess, is 
the last version given of the salvation of the Uuion 
I have heard; and hope I may never hear it again* 
But, Mr. Chairman, what further do we hear from 
the honorable member on this subject.' Why, sir. 



s 



he invokes the spirit of Henry Clay to come forth 
from the prrave to aid him and his party in vilify- 
ing and abusing Gf^tieral Scott, and defeating his 
election. I will assure the member, that if he had 
ihe power to call iorth all the spirits of Henry Clay 
and other departed patriots, from the Revolution to 
this time, he would get no aid from any such 
source in his unholy purpose. 

No man, when living, was ever viiificd and 
abused more than Hairy Clay by the Democratic 
party, or at least by many of them ; and, if I mis- 
take not, the honorable member (Mr. Olds) per- 
formed his full share in that abuse for many years 
past. Now that that pure patriot and grej.'- states- 
man is no more with us, his long political life end- 
ed, his person and character removed from the 
poisonous shafts of his political enemies, the hon- 
orable in.-^mber. with hundreds of others who 
abused him while living, have becotnc most elo- 
quent in praises of his Ibrmer service to the coun- 
try. I nm glad it is so ; that political animosities 
do not always last. And, sir, it is useful in thit 
respect : The people will now know how to appre- 
ciate political charges coming from the same 
s jurce against the living. They will, sir, see that 
such charges are entitled to no confidence — but only 
made to accomplish political purposes. For, sir, 
as I said before, no man was more misrcpresentec- 
and traduced in his time by men incapacitated by 
nature and association to do justice to a great sou! 
and mind, than Henry Clay; nor were deep, 
heartfelt grief and sorrow, ever to universally man 
ifested in the death of an individual, since tbedays 
of Washington, than in that of Henry Clay. He 
lived long^nough to shame his traducers into an 
acknowledgment of tiieir falsehoods, and to stamp 
his name upon the enduring pages of history as 
one of the greatest statesmen, orators, and patriots 
of the nineteenth century. Posterity will do 
justice to his traducers. This is all they have to 
fear. 

Sir, it is with General Scott as it was with Henry 
Clay. When he had passed the time of life to 
preclude tte idea of again becoming a candidatel 
for the Presidency, no men were more lavish in 
their encomiums upon his splendid and useful ca- 
reer than the members of the Democratic party.' 
At times, when they fancied General Scott would 
not be in their roari to the hi.ehest office in the gift 
of the nation, they wei c never more pi-ol-tic in eu-j 
logiums upon his genius and world-wide military 
fame. Their regrets in 1839 and 1848, because he^ 
was not nominated by the Whig National Con ' 



continue to be numbered with those that were, and 
the reins of Government perpetuated in the hands 
of the true American party. Gentlemen may rise 
upon this floor, and make barbarous and unpa- 
triotic comparisons, but they will avail them no- 
thing. General Sooit has been tried in the scales 
of public opinion and national justice, and not 
found wanting. The decree of the people has gone 
brth from Maine to Florida, and trom the shores 
of tile Atlantic to the Pacific coast, that justice 
must and shall be done to him wh.) has done jus- 
tice to and protected them and their fathers in days 
past. In him who has said that he f'jels that he is 
a citizen of every part of this great Rerublic, they 
know that they will have a wise President, a saga- 
cious statesman, and a cool, prudent man. 

Sir, in every capacity and relation in life that 
he has been called on to fill or sustain, he has dis- 
charged his duty or trust with credit to himself 
and honor to his country If a man's capacity for 
fulfilling the duties of the Chief M.igistracy arete 
be judged from the manner in which he las dis- 
charged public duties for nearly half a century, 
and 1 know no better means of arriving at a just 
conclusion upon this subject, why General Scott's 
friends — nay, the whole people — may challenge 
the world in vain for atiothersuch a record as his. 
From the time he entered the service of his coun- 
try in 1808, with a captain's cuminissioh of light 
artillery, down to the storming and surrenderor 
the capital of the Mexican republic, ''his epaulettes 
and plume," in the language of a political oppo- 
ciit, ''were always found glittering and waving 
where the battle ra<^ed fiercest, where the bullets 
ruined tUickest, and where the carnage was dead' 
liest, directing the American arms on to g/orioiM 
' victory." In the Discharge of the various civil 
trust?, whether at home or abroad, which have 
been imposed on him by his country, he has execu- 
ted them with consummate skill and ability. But 
why amplify upon this subject.'' The country 
knows it by heart, and is only waiting to ratify it 
at the ballot-box. 

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, permit me to say, 
that I challenge any man upon this floor to point 
the countr}' to one single act in the public life of 
WiniiL-ld Scott, whether military or civil, which 
will not bear the closest scrutiny, li he will, I 
will show him the recorded approbfitioii, not only 
of the a.iministration under svhich it was done, 
but that of his own party. But, sir, I will do the 
Democratic party the justice to say, that notwith- 
standing the abuse some of ibtir leaders have 



ventions, were apparently sincere; ani their cen- heaped upon General Scott, they have never been 
sures of the Whig party" for not nominating him lable to point to one single act in his long public 
were not few. Sir, their priefs and condolences ilife to which they could take exceptions or con- 
are now hushed, and we benr nothing from them jdeiiin. This fact is the best encomium that can , 
but murmurings and deep felt uttered curses atjbe passed upon any public man who has served • 
their own sad condition. Their days must stiUJhis country for more than forty years. i 



